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Monday, 25 August 2014

Everyone
is emotionally touched by an animal at some point in their lives. For me,
having a dog in the house since the day I was born forever cemented canines in
my heart. Some people have had terrible experiences with animals, while others
can’t live without one. If you’re thinking about getting a dog or cat to add to
your family, then I urge you to adopt a pet from your local animal shelter. You’ll
not only help an animal in need, you’ll receive something we ALL need—unconditional
love.

And now, without further ado, part two of Jan
Flores’s heartwarming tail, er tale…

Things
have changed at the shelter where I volunteer as a dog walker. It now has a
Behavior and Training Department, whose members evaluate the dogs that come in to
determine if they have any medical and/or behavior problems before advancing them
to the adoption floor. But when I first started, it was just me, the dogs, and
a slip lead (For those who don’t know what a slip lead is, it’s a long piece of
material about half an inch wide with a metal “D” ring at one end. To use it,
you thread the end through the ring, forming a circle that substitutes as a
collar. The “slip” of the lead means that it can be adjusted to any size
dog). In those early days, I quickly
learned that it wasn’t so simple as:
put on a leash and go.

I chose to
work with the clinic/hospital dogs instead of those already up for adoption because
they seemed to be most in need of help and attention. They didn’t know where
they were, or why their family had left them behind in a strange place. I wasn’t a familiar face, but I could be a
helping hand, letting them know—for the brief time I was there on my volunteer
day—that they weren’t alone.

It was
an experiment for both of us. In those early days, I had no way of knowing when
I entered a kennel what I was about to face. Some dogs “shut down” in
depression and turned away; others became aggressive because they were
uncertain and scared. But most were so glad to see me that they almost vibrated
with excitement. A leash, a leash, we’re going for a walk! I could see it in their
faces, and it makes me smile every time. Their joy at such a simple act almost makes me
forget why they are here. Almost.

It was a
shock to learn that only a minority of the shelter dogs are strays (at least in
our shelter); the majority have been brought in by owners with various excuses
(see Part I) about why they can’t keep
the dog any longer. But one justification I’ll never understand, is “We just don’t want him anymore.”

How can
you not want a dog who has been a faithful
family member for years? How can you throw him away for someone else to take
care of just because he has silver around the muzzle, or cataracts in his eyes,
or limbs crippled with arthritis? To see such a dog watching his former family
walking away without looking back is simply gut-wrenching.

I always
pay special attention to these old dogs. The look in their eyes just breaks my
heart.

On a
brighter note, here are some of the special dogs I’ve met at the shelter:

HOLLY: (so named because she was found in a parking
lot at Christmas). We never knew what happened to this white, bright-eyed
little Maltese cross—whether it was abuse, or being hit by a car—that caused paralysis
in both hind legs. I admit to mixed emotions when they fitted her with a canine
version of a wheelchair. It seemed so unnatural
to me. But when I saw Holly’s joy at being able to race around—sometimes on one
wheel—I had to admit that, for her, it was the right prescription.

LEO: a small boxer cross that came
from Mexico
with what appeared at first to be a tumor the size of a small grapefruit under
his chin. I won’t go into the medical details this dog suffered; suffice to say
he became one of the most loved because of his resilience, determination, and
sheer refusal to lose to a deadly disease.

STEVIE: a
black, blind terrier cross with eyes that looked like silver coins. He was
found wandering on a busy thoroughfare. It was a miracle he wasn’t killed. The
shelter vet reluctantly determined that it was too late to restore his vision,
but he didn’t let his blindness stop him. Whenever he heard the jingle of a
harness and a leash, he whirled in circles, eager to go outside for a walk.

CHANCE: a
beautiful 25-pound American Eskimo, with the blackest eyes and a blindingly
white coat (once he’d had a bath to wash away the street grime). He had many
physical problems, but he didn’t let that stop him. Sometimes he just wanted to
sit with my arm around him while we watched the world go by.

FLOWER: an
abused pit bull with so much potential. Black with a little white on her chest;
eyes gleaming with intelligence. We worked hard getting her aggression under
control so she could be adopted, only to have her returned in a semi-crazed
state with no explanation about what had happened. Despite our best efforts,
she quickly developed “shelter stress”, and even though it was the best thing
for her, it was a sad day for us all when she was put down. Such a loss for a
dog who had tried so hard.

ABBIE: an
extremely shy Aussie, with a beautiful “Autumn” coat. She would retreat to the
opposite of her kennel and shake when anyone tried to get near her, but with a
lot of patience we brought her out of her shell and into a new life.

BRIE:
another Aussie. She had to have her front leg amputated because her owner left
a home-made, too-tight bandage on and left it on too long, destroying the
circulation in that leg. She was a brave and uncomplaining girl who just wanted
to be loved. That’s what we gave her—until her new family came along, fell in
love, and adopted her.

There
are so many more that I could go on and on. They pass through my mind like a
fancy shuffle, with the cards falling in a waterfall, moving so fast I can’t
see the faces. But I know they were there, and I believe I did my own small
part in helping them. What they did for me—and continue to do—is more than I
can say.

Janis
Flores was born in Montana, and raised in Colorado and
California. After graduating from college, she received her license in Medical
Technology, married Ray Flores, and they moved to northern California—she to
supervise a laboratory, he to establish his horseshoeing business. She found
time to take a class on the short story, but instead wrote her first book—a
Gothic suspense titled HAWKSHEAD, which was subsequently published in hardcover
by (then) Doubleday and company. Thirty-four novels—from historical to
contemporary mainstream—followed.

SWEETER
THAN WINE, published by Musapublishing.com, is her first
ebook.

The award-winning TOUCHED BY FIRE has now been reissued in ebook form.

Monday, 18 August 2014

Animals
are near and dear to my heart. In 2007, I had the privilege of working at our
local animal shelter. From this experience I got an idea to write a book for my
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls series—a young adult teen psychic series—now
in the hands of a few reputable traditional publishers via my agents at Walden House (Books & Stuff).
It was through my love of animals that I met fellow author and kindred spirit,
Jan Flores, who I found loves our furry friends just as much as me. Jan has had
some wonderful experiences, especially with shelter dogs, and I asked her if
she’d be so kind as to share them with you. Take it away, Jan…

Five years
ago, I walked into our local animal shelter and changed my life forever. It wasn’t easy. In fact, volunteering to walk
shelter dogs was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I know that will probably sound silly to a
lot of people: after all, what’s the big deal about walking dogs? Put a leash
on and go.

For me,
it wasn’t that simple. Blessed (or cursed) with a writer’s super-active
imagination, I didn’t know what would be waiting behind the reception desk,
locked away out of sight of the public. I pictured rows of dogs in wire
kennels, unloved, unwanted, dropped off by owners who abdicated responsibility
because the dog was sick, or old, or injured, or ill-mannered, or just
something to be thrown away becauseit
was, after all,only a dog.

I’ll
admit it: I was anxious—scared that I’d make a fool of myself by bursting into
tears as soon as I saw the dogs; sure that I wouldn’t be able to turn away from
all those sad faces, begging for rescue. I was positiveI’d have nightmares about frightened and confused dogs, who didn’t
understand what had happened to them, or why.

Then I
saw a poster that made me feel like a coward, writing checks to assuage my
conscience, donating money instead of time so I wouldn’t have to see what I
didn’t want to know. The poster showed a dirty, skinny little dog with a huge
chain hanging from a studded collar around a neck that looked too frail to hold
it up. I couldn’t look away from the depth of pain and hopelessness I saw in
that dog’s eyes. The caption under the picture read:

You might not be
able to help all the lost dogs in the world, but you can help the one in front
of you.

That day
I walked into the shelter and volunteered to walk the dogs.

Janis
Flores was born in Montana, and raised in Colorado and
California. After graduating from college, she received her license in Medical
Technology, married Ray Flores, and they moved to northern California—she to
supervise a laboratory, he to establish his horseshoeing business. She found
time to take a class on the short story, but instead wrote her first book—a
Gothic suspense titled HAWKSHEAD, which was subsequently published in hardcover
by (then) Doubleday and company. Thirty-four novels—from historical to
contemporary mainstream—followed.

SWEETER
THAN WINE, published by Musapublishing.com, is her first
ebook.

The award-winning TOUCHED BY FIRE has now been reissued in ebook form.

Monday, 11 August 2014

Book Review: The Gates of
Atlantis: Book 6 Battle for Acropolis by Mikey Brooks...

Magic is dying. And it’s up
to 13-year-old Talon and his foster sister Hattie to save magic…and Atlantis at
the same time. Oh…my…Poseidon! Brooks had me hooked from the get-go. This
middle grade read is the sixth book in The Gates of Atlantis series, and it
doesn’t disappoint your taste buds if you love adventure, fantasy, and fair
play. Brooks has created a world where magical beings, human animal hybrids,
and humans come together to save not only Atlantis’s fate, but Earth’s fate as
well. Non-stop action and plenty of surprises are the main ingredients to this
well done story. Whether you’re looking for your next book series to read, or a
new author, Battle for Acropolis may
just be your ticket to a world that will put a smile on your face, and take you
on a journey you’ll never forget.

Here’s the Blurb:

Thirteen-year-old Talon is in
trouble…again. He didn’t mean to burn down the school library. It just
happened. Things like that always happen to Talon. His life is a mixture of the
weird and bizarre. No one else he knows can shoot fire from their hands or
cause an earthquake…but he can. Every night the same dream haunts Talon: the
destruction of an underwater city. He hasn’t a clue what it means but he feels
like fate is trying to warn him. It’s not until he runs away with his foster
sister Hattie that he discovers his trouble-making powers and strange nightmare
are connected. Together they are the key to saving magic…to saving Atlantis.

And… here’s my
Endorsement:

Things are not what they
seem in Mikey Brooks’ Battle for
Acropolis, the last installment of The Gates of Atlantis series. And trust
me—it’s a GOOD thing! Kids of all ages will love this fantastical adventure
that will make them believe that in coming together and acting as one, we can
accomplish great things. Well done, Mr. Brooks!

~ Sharon Ledwith, author of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of
Atlantis

Mikey is a small child masquerading as an adult. On
occasion you’ll catch him dancing the funky chicken, ABC
Adventures: Magical CreaturesandBean’s
Dragonsas well as the middle-grade fantasy-adventure seriesThe
Dream Keeper Chronicles. His art can be seen
in many forms from picture books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with
his three daughters and explore the worlds that only the imagination of
children can create. Mikey has a BS degree in English from Utah State
University and works full-time as a freelance illustrator, cover designer, and
author. As a member of theEmblazoners, he is
one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the hearts of children’. He
is also one of the hosts of theAuthors’ Think Tank
Podcast. You can find more about him and his
books at:http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/.

singing like a banshee,
and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several
books including the best-selling

Sunday, 10 August 2014

This upcoming
August 30th marks the 1st Anniversary for the book
release of Legend of the Timekeepers,
the prequel to The Last Timekeepers time travel series. In keeping with my
giving nature, I’d like to mark this occasion with two Goodread Giveaways. Not
only am I giving away a signed copy of each of my books: Legend of the Timekeepers and The
Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, but I’m throwing in two signed
trading cards and a rubber wrist band with each paperback.

This Goodreads
Giveaway starts August 10th (the date of my 29th Wedding Anniversary)
and runs until August 31st so you have plenty of time to enter. I’m
hoping whoever wins these giveaways may choose to do a book report on one of my
books since back-to-school will be in full swing in just over three weeks.
Hint, hint. Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to enter to win! Cheers
and enjoy the rest of your summer season!

Monday, 4 August 2014

Sticky, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth heaven. I’m talking about S’Mores – one of the mainstays of camping and a first choice with kids around the campfire. Here’s an easy-peasy treat that takes five minutes to prep, fifteen minutes to make, and serves eight. And guess what? No campfire is required. You can create this treat in the comfort of your own back yard with your barbecue.What You Need:
8 jumbo marshmallows
16 milk chocolate squares
3 tbsp butter, melted and cooled
½ cup of crumbled honey graham wafers (about 3) spread on a plate, plus 16 whole wafers for serving
Maple grilling plank, soaked in water for 2 hoursWhat You Do:
Preheat barbecue to medium.

Make a slit in the middle of each marshmallow end. Stuff each marshmallow with 2 squares of chocolate (one in each end), hiding chocolate inside. Lightly brush stuffed marshmallows with butter and roll in graham crumb to coat evenly.

Grill soaked plank for 2 to 3 minutes on each side (to help intensify smoky flavor and prevent warping). Once plank begins to smoke and crackle, place prepared marshmallows on top and close barbecue lid. Bake for 3 minutes or until marshmallows are lightly toasted and slightly gooey.

Remove plank from barbecue and set on metal pan. Serve marshmallows directly on plank with whole wafers for scooping and sandwiching.ADDED BONUS – if you feel adventurous you can spread smooth peanut butter over the milk chocolate squares before stuffing it into the marshmallow. Trust me—it will make a peanut butter cup blush. Oh, and make sure you have plenty of napkins or wipes on hand.
Enjoy!

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About Me

Sharon
Ledwith
is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel adventure series, THE
LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM
FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading,
exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a
serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her
hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.